Patent GB-890231-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to straight bar knitting machines
Inventor: BRAIN HERBERT WILLIAM
IPC: D04B11/26
Filed: 1957-05-03
Abstract: 890,231. Knitting-machines. COTTON Ltd., WILLIAM. April 17, 1958 [May 3, 1957], No. 14124/57. Class 74 (2). A multi-division straight bar machine has a stationary guide extending between the knitting divisions K and a loading station L at the end of the machine, e.g. a topping stand, whereby trains 14, 15 of carriages 16 carrying transfer point bars 4 can be moved to station L for receipt of rib fabric pieces and returned to divisions K for unloading, the arrangement being such that bars of one train can be loaded while the other bars are being unloaded. As shown a guide rail 5, which is also an electric conductor powered from a transformer under control of switches 11, 12, 13, comprises two looped parts 5a, 5b extending round the ends of the machine from points 5c, 5d, the part 5a being under control of switch 11 at station L and switch 12 at non-knitting division NK, while part 5b is under control of switch 13 at the other end. Each carriage 16 comprises trolley units 20, Figs. 2 and 3, supporting an angle bar 17, with point bar supporting hooks 18, 19, and each trolley unit has nylon guide wheels 23, 24 and 25, 26 engaging the top and side edges of the rail. Links connect the carriages of each train and the leading carriage of trains 14, 15 are respectively connected by links 27 to motors 28, 29 carried by further trolleys 20, each motor having a vertical drive shaft 30 with a friction wheel in contact with the rail. Power for each motor is picked up from the rail 1 through a brush box 34 supported by link 27 and movable on the rail. The trains are controlled manually and automatically at switch points 11, 12, 13 by microswitches operable respectively by push buttons 39, 40, 41 or by associated switch arms which are engageable by laterally spaced strikers 45, 46, 47, Figs. 5-7 (not shown), on certain of the carriages, the strikers 45 being at the leading end of each carriage and the strikers 46, 47 respectively being at the trailing ends of the last carriages of trains 14, 15. In operation, after exchanging full bars on train 14 for empty ones, the knitting operator presses button 40 to send train 14 to loading station L where striker 45 engages the arm of switch 11 to cut off the power from rail part 5a and arrest the leading carriage opposite the loading station. An empty bar is replaced by a full one and the train is stepped round by operation of button 39 until all the carriages are replenished. Meanwhile the knitting operator, having exchanged the bars on train 15, presses button 41 of switch 13 to energize rail part 5b and send the train to station L, the replenished train 14 simultaneously continuing round the machine on rail part 5b and being arrested at its original kniting divisions K by striker 46 operating switch 12 to render rail part 5a " dead." When train 15 is replenished it returns by rail 5b to its original knitting divisions where it is stopped by striker 47 operating switch 13 to cut off the power. The switch arrangements may be modified (Figs. 8-10, not shown). Specification 797,871 is referred to. Reference has been directed by the Comptroller to Specification 814,097.